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Automaton Sovietico

How do you explain the Nicko interview? What is the most important there is the mention of Adrian Smith. That means Dickinson, Harris and Smallwood already talked and agreed on a three guitarist line up.

Automaton Sovietico

At this point I think we're discussing did Maiden conclude that Blaze is done for at South America tour and cancelled shows/encores as a statement or they knew he's out prior to these gigs and didn't care for encores or cancellations.

Edit : and as far as original topic goes, the argument about the overlap clearly shows there was no downtime between vocalists and as such no audition was even considered.

Ancient Mariner

How do you explain the Nicko interview? What is the most important there is the mention of Adrian Smith. That means Dickinson, Harris and Smallwood already talked and agreed on a three guitarist line up.

I think they had vocalists lined up, if Steve and Bruce couldn't find common ground. Adrian rejoining was a genious power move by Bruce. He knew that H is a guy who cares a lot about production and isn't afraid to say to Steve if something sounds shit. Therefore, I think the first demand from Bruce, when they started the talks, was to take H back. And Steve just said yes.

Bruce said in the Adrian Smith as known by Bruce Dickinson article that he wouldn't have rejoined if H wasn't going to and that suggests that this was one of his first if not the first demand.

Ancient Mariner

I reckon Steve would have been rather keen to have H back rather just acquiescing to a Bruce demand. Firstly, he's a pragmatist and would have been keen to have another great songwriter on board, as well as noticing what the prospect of a 3 guitar line up would offer in terms of selling the idea that it's something new from Maiden. Also, he said about the time H left, that he had more in common socially with H than the rest of the band members.

Automaton Sovietico

I think they had vocalists lined up, if Steve and Bruce couldn't find common ground. Adrian rejoining was a genious power move by Bruce. He knew that H is a guy who cares a lot about production and isn't afraid to say to Steve if something sounds shit. Therefore, I think the first demand from Bruce, when they started the talks, was to take H back. And Steve just said yes.

Bruce said in the Adrian Smith as known by Bruce Dickinson article that he wouldn't have rejoined if H wasn't going to and that suggests that this was one of his first if not the first demand.

If you go back to that Nicko interview, there's a paragraph outlining discussion between him, Rod and Janick where Rod confirms the three guitar lineup albeit Janick obviously had no clue they were going to the three guitar lineup. In case we put aside the third scenario, and that's the return of Adrian Smith and Maiden's three guitar thing regardless of Bruce, the push for Adrian that Bruce did must've happened in November 1998 or before that. So the January meeting where Bruce pushes Smith back in the fold is out of the question.

Ancient Mariner

I reckon Steve would have been rather keen to have H back rather just acquiescing to a Bruce demand. Firstly, he's a pragmatist and would have been keen to have another great songwriter on board, as well as noticing what the prospect of a 3 guitar line up would offer in terms of selling the idea that it's something new from Maiden. Also, he said about the time H left, that he had more in common socially with H than the rest of the band members.

Yup. I've always understood that whatever hardships Bruce and Steve have had and whatever H and Steve have disagreed about this or that, they did get along very well and had usually pretty similar views of Maiden sound and direction. Smith/Harris is also one of the most prominent writing credits mentions thorough the catalogue, so at least from purely musical point of view I believe Steve would have wanted Adrian to re-join in any case - should H himself have ever been into it, anyway.

Automaton Sovietico

I reckon Steve would have been rather keen to have H back rather just acquiescing to a Bruce demand. Firstly, he's a pragmatist and would have been keen to have another great songwriter on board, as well as noticing what the prospect of a 3 guitar line up would offer in terms of selling the idea that it's something new from Maiden. Also, he said about the time H left, that he had more in common socially with H than the rest of the band members.

Ancient Mariner

Yup. I've always understood that whatever hardships Bruce and Steve have had and whatever H and Steve have disagreed about this or that, they did get along very well and had usually pretty similar views of Maiden sound and direction. Smith/Harris is also one of the most prominent writing credits mentions thorough the catalogue, so at least from purely musical point of view I believe Steve would have wanted Adrian to re-join in any case - should H himself have ever been into it, anyway.

In Bruce's eyes, H's return would disable Steve having complete control over Maiden's musical direction, which is also coincidentally the reason, I think, why H left in the first place (that combined with having a son).

Ancient Mariner

If you go back to that Nicko interview, there's a paragraph outlining discussion between him, Rod and Janick where Rod confirms the three guitar lineup albeit Janick obviously had no clue they were going to the three guitar lineup. In case we put aside the third scenario, and that's the return of Adrian Smith and Maiden's three guitar thing regardless of Bruce, the push for Adrian that Bruce did must've happened in November 1998 or before that. So the January meeting where Bruce pushes Smith back in the fold is out of the question.

I think Rod and/or Nicko indeed contacted the Bruce camp before that. It's also very possible that Rod was sure he can convince Steve to bring Bruce back and was preparing the territory for months. That's why he was comfortable speaking about this to Janick.

Janick's role in all of this is a bit strange. According to Bruce, they hang out and went bowling quite a lot when he wasn't in Maiden. It's also completely possible that Nicko fucked up the timeline (again).

Ancient Mariner

I think Rod and/or Nicko indeed contacted the Bruce camp before that. It's also very possible that Rod was sure he can convince Steve to bring Bruce back and was preparing the territory for months. That's why he was comfortable speaking about this to Janick.

Janick's role in all of this is a bit strange. According to Bruce, they hang out and went bowling quite a lot when he wasn't in Maiden. It's also completely possible that Nicko fucked up the timeline (again).

Ancient Mariner

I see what you mean. If I am not mistaken, Janick had some reservations about Blaze being chosen as Bruce's replacement. He probably was in no position to disagree with Steve's choice though, being a relatively new member of the band.

Ancient Marinade

The way I've always heard/read the "Janick steps aside" narrative" is that Bruce suggested Adrian, and Steve said "and get rid of Janick?" and Bruce said "No my sexy homeboy bass god, three guitarists at the same time!" And at some point around this time, separately, Janick got wind of Adrian potentially returning, but since he only heard the rumors, he was prepared to leave to honor Adrian's return.